Into The Lion's Den
Marjorie Keyantash
©
Copyright 2021 by Marjorie Keyantash
|
Photo © by Wilson Chen |
As
a former zookeeper and lifelong lover of big cats, I have recently
decided to try my hand at writing out my passion through stories and
personal narratives. It is my hope that
my writing will
help raise awareness on how to better coexist with these animals, and
how to promote involvement in conservation efforts on their behalf.
“Just
stay calm…stay calm,” I kept telling myself as my heart
beat out of my chest. I knew what I was supposed to
do. From
my years of studying big cats I knew the proper protocol for what to
do when encountering a mountain lion but I had never had to put it to
the test... until now.
I
had always wanted to see Yosemite with its world-class hiking trails,
sweeping views, and teeming wildlife. So when my husband John
suggested that I tag along with him and his students on one of his
class field trips I jumped at the chance. I can still remember my
first glimpse of the park from the car as we emerged from a mountain
tunnel on Highway 41 and were greeted on the other side with a
picture postcard view of the park in all its glory. I marveled at the
countless majestic granite walls jutting up from the valley floor
which created a mesmerizing backdrop of dramatic rock formations and
graceful waterfalls that seemed to disappear into the verdant
wilderness below.
After
we arrived at our campsite and set up the tents we headed for the
trails. I cannot emphasize enough how surreal it is to witness
firsthand the beauty of nature unveiling itself so exquisitely
throughout the park. From the towering majesty of the giant sequoias
and breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains’
impressive peaks right down to the lush meadows and rushing, pristine
streams, a picturesque scene awaited us around every turn, ready to
show us the wildness and sheer beauty of this natural world in all
its glory. Much like that scene in Mary Poppins where Mary, Bert and
the kids jump into the painting, I felt like I had just stepped into
a picture postcard of this idyllic wonderland.
As
our last day of the trip was winding down, John wanted to go on one
last hike before dark. After having already spent several hours on
the trails, most of the class felt they had had enough hiking for the
day and headed back to camp. That left me, John, and one other
student, Katie, to continue on. There were reportedly some epic views
just up ahead that we wanted to see before heading back and we
thought there would be ample time to complete our journey before
nightfall. But as the last remnants of daylight began to fade behind
the horizon, darkness fell fast on our journey.
As
we navigated the trail loop we realized it was much longer than
expected; still, we forged on in hopes of getting back to camp
without delay. Just then, a misstep on a rock left Katie with a
twisted ankle. As John tended to her injury I went a little further
ahead, just around the bend to see if I could see any signs of our
uphill trail beginning to descend. As I rounded the switchback and
ascended the hill, I slowly scanned from left to right with my
headlamp. Just then my light passed over a small, hollowed out cave
about 10 yards to my left. I could just make out the silhouette of a
large feline-shaped face with two eyes shining back at me. There was
no mistaking it─
that was a mountain lion. My heart beat faster and faster as I tried
to remain calm and remember the do's and don'ts when encountering a
mountain lion. First, DO
make noise.
I stomped loudly but in my state of panic could not muster up a loud
yell. Second, DON'T
turn your back on a mountain lion and DON’T run away.
I began slowly walking backward toward the rest of my group. Third,
DO make
yourself appear as big as possible.
Okay, here is where I failed miserably. While walking backwards I
tripped on a rock and fell back to the ground. Now my adrenaline was
officially off the charts, and I was overcome with the realization
that I had just inadvertently
made
myself appear smaller and perfectly prey-sized for this cunning
carnivore. In that
moment my heart began beating so fast and strong I thought it would
beat right out of my chest. I quickly scrambled to my feet and
composed myself just enough to continue my backward descent toward
the others, all the while keeping my eyes fixated on those piercing
eyes emanating from the cave. Each quick and clumsy step I took put
more between me and the beast until I arrived back at my group. With
Katie now all patched up, we wasted no time making our hasty exit
from the trail and back to camp.
The
next day, during the long car ride home I sat
in the
passenger seat and replayed in my head my harrowing encounter from
the night before. As I
vividly recounted the order of events, from the moment I first locked
eyes with the daunting predator right down to my awkward attempt at
fleeing from his presence, it occurred to me that, throughout the
whole episode I witnessed no aggression from that cat. True, this
elusive animal can be a formidable predator when challenged or
threatened. Yet he seemed to want nothing more to do with me than I
did with him. I had just witnessed first-hand that mountain lions are
not always the menacing, ferocious predators they are often made out
to be.
The
unfortunate reality is that, although scientific research has shown
time and again the mountain lion’s importance as a key
contributor to the overall health of its habitat, this large
carnivore is often perceived as having a negative impact on humans
and the environment. The mountain lion’s niche in their
ecological community is undoubtedly a vital one, and their removal
from it would have negative lasting effects, not only on other
wildlife that share their habitat but also on their environment as a
whole. By developing a better understanding of their nature and the
important role they play in maintaining a healthy ecosystem, we can
hopefully learn to better coexist with these amazing and often
misunderstood cats.
Marjorie
was born in 1968 in Williamsburg, Virginia and currently resides in
Long Beach, California with her husband and daughter. She has worked
in the field of exotic animal care for 17 years, most recently as an
animal keeper with the Los Angeles Zoo. Big cat conservation is her
passion, and the inspiration behind her decision to become a wildlife
conservationist. As a recent graduate with a Masters in Conservation
Biology, it is Marjorie’s lifelong goal to raise awareness of
the plight of the big cats and explore what can be done to ensure
their stable populations.
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